Back Contact Alternatives for Increasing the Life Expectancy of cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Photovoltaic Modules

To enable a 40-year useful life for cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) modules, the Center for Life Cycle Analysis at Columbia University and CdTe module manufacturer First Solar will conduct a life-cycle sustainability assessment to evaluate considered improvements in intrinsic solar cell degradation and solar module failure modes. This work will subsequently reduce the levelized cost of energy to $0.02 per kilowatt-hour for utility applications. This work will increase U.S. competitiveness by evaluating cost and environmental impact trade-offs in new back contact doping and encapsulants for CdTe modules.